Israeli planes attack Islamic Jihad camps in Gaza

GAZA CITY: Israeli aircraft on Saturday attacked two military sites in the southern Gaza Strip, leaving four Palestinians injured, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The Israel Defense Forces Spokesman unit confirmed that IAF aircraft attacked two terrorist activity targets in the south of the Gaza Strip.

"The strike was in response to rocket attacks on Israeli territory and the IDF will continue to work against terrorist activity that threatens the State of Israel," a statement by the IDF read.

Palestinians in Gaza reported that F16 planes hit targets belonging to Islamic Jihad west of Khan Younis. According to witnesses, four people were lightly injured, including a baby.

Early on Saturday, Israeli planes also attacked two Islamic Jihad and Hamas targets in the central Gaza strip, causing no injuries, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The air raids came after tensions rose along the Israel-Gaza border this week following a rocket attack on the Israeli city of Beersheba for the first time since the Israeli operation against Gaza in December 2008- January 2009.

"I do not suggest that anyone test the State of Israel's resolve," Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned Hamas on Thursday.

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry told the Security Council on Thursday that concrete international intervention is needed to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I must in all frankness report low confidence and trust of the parties in each other and in international efforts to help them overcome their differences," said Serry. "The parties are unlikely to overcome the deficit of trust without a credible and effective international intervention in the peace process."

The UN envoy condemned the increase in violence in the Gaza Strip. Recently, the region has witnessed an escalation of rocket attacks against Israel and Israeli air attacks against Gaza.